Geelong’s win over St Kilda was more than a belting, it was a professional assassination, writes Mark Robinson
Geelong doesn’t get talked about in premiership debates because its game style isn’t attractive. It’s enough to get the Cats to the finals every year, is 2020 the year it takes them all the way to the cup?
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Chris Scott will go to his grave with his game plan clutched in one hand as if it’s a bible.
That’s a sign of his undeniable faith.
It’s not the helter-skelter footy which Port Adelaide and Richmond displayed on Saturday, which many called the game of the year, instead Geelong’s game is based on all-round defence, precise ball movement and sound fundamentals.
Unquestionably, the Port-Tigers clash was pulsating and Monday night’s Geelong and St Kilda game was not.
Guess what? The winner still gets only four points.
The 59-point win by the Cats was more than hapless belting, it was professional assassination, underpinned by a defence which controlled St Kilda’s ball movement and a physical pressure which hurried St Kilda’s players with the ball and the brain.
It was death by a 1000 one percenters
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The question is: Will this game style deliver the Cats the premiership?
It dispatches most teams in the home-and-away season, evident by Geelong’s ability to play finals almost every year, but the query has been does it produce enough goals.
Monday night they kicked 93 points, their second-highest score of the season, led by a rampaging Gary Rohan (four goals) and strapping veteran Tom Hawkins (five goals).
Hawkins is a powerhouse mark, but what stands out in his game this year is his nimble feet in the goalsquare and goals off the deck. He’s not the best player at the Cats, but you could argue until the cows come home he is their most valuable.
In their two losing finals last year they kicked seven and nine goals against Collingwood and Richmond. The year before it was six goals when they lost to Melbourne. The year before that it was 10 and five goals in losses to Adelaide and Richmond.
Their slow, deliberate ball movement was ramped up last year and with another 20 games or so to develop and enhance it, maybe the Cats are better placed this year to win the elusive flag.
Time will tell, perhaps sooner rather than later. They play top-of-the-pops Port Adelaide on Friday night and their game style, any game style, is being tested by Ken Hinkley’s team.
For sure, it dismantled the Saints Monday night. In fact, it brought the Saints to their knees.
It’s too simplistic to say Brett Ratten was out-coached, but it’s fair to say he knew what Geelong would deliver and he and his players did not have an answer.
Most of the Saints’ better players across the first half of the season were made to look pedestrian.
Dan Butler (four disposals) was snuffed out by Mark O’Connor, Max King was Harry Taylor-ed, Jarryn Geary as a defensive forward couldn’t quell Tom Stewart, and defenders Dougal Howard, Jake Carlisle and Callum Wilkie were all beaten. Nick Hind and Brad Hill, the ground ball winners, delivered single-digit returns.
St Kilda’s pressure was their fourth-lowest of the season (174) and their tackle numbers (38) were their third fewest. Their pressure game was denied because Geelong marked the ball so much.
The Cats took 100 marks, the second most conceded by the Saints this year, and the second most Geelong has taken in a game this year. In contrast, the Saints took 51.
The Cats simply did not give them time and space, and when the Saints did win the ball in the defensive 50, the Cats did not give them outlet targets.
Their system-based game plan strangled the Saints, who were the No.1 attacking team before Monday night.
The Saints kicked four goals, three of them coming from centre square clearances. Think about that. Only one goal came from general play, which is just extraordinary from a team many believed could be a contender.
Sam Menegola might get BOG votes and he continues to push for an All-Australian spot and the current plan of playing Patrick Dangerfield forward with sessions in the midfield is a luxury.
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You’d have to say the Saints failed the test, just as we said Brisbane failed the test against Richmond two games back. But for the Saints and Lions, it’s got to be about learning more than losing.
As for the Cats, they are the sleepers. They are not mentioned as a strong premiership favourite because, presumably, their game isn’t sexy enough and pundits don’t trust them in finals
Well, isn’t trust better than sexy, anyhow. I’m sure that’s written in the Bible somewhere.
Originally published as Geelong’s win over St Kilda was more than a belting, it was a professional assassination, writes Mark Robinson